Amur Falcon

Traveling the main road to visit John, Debbie and children in mid-March, I spotted several falcons perched on the telephone wires. Grant promised that when we returned, he'd stop and I could take photos. 

He did. And I did.

Amur Falcon (Male) 

The Amur Falcon is one bird where the female is actually prettier than the male. However, as you can see, the male (above) is a glorious bird with uniform dark plumage; darkest on back and lightest on cheeks, throat and breast. In flight the male's underwing coverts are white. You can just see the white showing in the last photo above. 

See here  for the more information and images on the male and female falcon.

These falcons are non-breeding Palearctic migrants, traveling enormous distances from eastern Asia (where it breeds) to South Africa between November and May. 

I'm linking to Wild Bird Wednesday here